HARRISONBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – After three straight road matches, the Royals returned home on Tuesday to take on Randolph Macon in a midweek ODAC matchup.

It was a tightly contested match with a lot of back-and-forth, but ultimately it was RMC who picked up the 3-1 (25-17, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22) win.

Records: EMU 4-13, 1-3 ODAC | Randolph Macon 10-4, 5-2 ODAC

Highlights

Set One: RMC 25, EMU 17
• EMU took a slim 6-5 lead through the first 11 points of the set, picking up kills from Kassidy Meadows, Kenley Smith and Emma Rogers, along with a Rogers block. RMC reeled off six straight points, forcing an EMU timeout.
• Out of the break, EMU was able to keep Macon in its sights, trailing by no more than five to 18-13. But the Yellow Jackets scored three straight, taking a 21-13 lead, their biggest of the set.
• With RMC leading 23-14, EMU won three of the next four points with an error, a block from Smith and a Felicity Jones ace, but a Royals error sealed the set win for RMC.

Set Two: RMC 25, EMU 18
• The Royals pulled out to a 7-3 lead in the second, with two kills from Meadows and another ace from Jones. After RMC pulled within one at 7-6, EMU went on a 3-0 run, highlighted by kills from Rogers and Emma Greer, along with a Kaitlyn Custis/Rogers block, forcing a Macon timeout.
• After the timeout, Randolph Macon answered with a 7-1 run, taking their first lead of the set, 13-11. The teams would trade blows and, after a Rogers/Lindsay Bly block, EMU would pull back out in front 16-15. Unfortunately for the Royals, RMC was able to wrap up the set on a 10-2 run to pick up the win and take a 2-0 lead.

Set Three: EMU 25, RMC 20
• Macon took an early lead in set three, pulling out to a 7-2 advantage through nine points. EMU would respond with a 4-1 tilt, using two kills from Smith and one from Greer, to pull within two.
• EMU would claw back and tie the match, and the teams would remain even to 12-12, when RMC picked up four straight, taking a 16-12 lead. EMU would then go on a 5-1 run of their own with kills from Custis and Jada Parker, tying things at 17.
• After the Yellow Jackets had taken a 20-18 lead late in the set, EMU wasn’t ready to call it a night as they forced a fourth set, finishing on a 7-0 run, including four service aces from Emerson Moats.

Set Four: RMC 25, EMU 20
• EMU and RMC swapped points all the way to 10-10, before EMU scored three straight to take a 13-10 lead.
• With the Royals leading 14-11, Randolph Macon took a one-point lead with a 4-0 run. EMU answered with a 3-0 run of their own, taking a 17-15 lead and forcing a Macon timeout.
• It was a well-timed timeout, as the Yellow Jackets went on an 8-0 run, taking a 23-17 lead late in the set. The Royals weren’t done, however, as they won five of the next six points, with Moats picking up back-to-back aces and making RMC use their final timeout. Once again, it was a well-placed timeout, as Randolph Macon came out and picked up a kill to pick up the win.

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Greer (7), Smith, Rogers (5)
Assists: Custis (14)
Aces: Moats (6)
Digs: Moats (20), Rebekah Allen (13)
Blocks: Rogers (4)

What’s Next
EMU will be back on the court on Thursday, when Sweet Briar comes to town to take on the Royals. First serve against the Vixens is set for 6:00 pm.

— EMU Athletics —